Musical instrument



June 23, 1942. v 2,287,183

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 29, 1941 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ill/l? 690%,?H l W54;

' 0 By Allan/0y June 23, 1942. H, LIVELY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec.29, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 6:01am f2! .ZZ/VEZ @Mwi ih June 23, 1942- a.H. LIVELY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 29, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 GnomeHZ/i/EL Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICALINSTRUMENT Grover H. Lively, St. Albans, W. Va. Application December 29,1941, Serial No. 424,819

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in musicalinstruments and has particular reference to a sounding board havingcorrugations on its upper surface similar to a washboard and acrosswhich a metal thimble or similar tool on the hand of a person may berubbed to produce the desired sound vibrations.

A further object is to provide a flat hollow sound box of this characterwhich is closed at its top and having a tone hole in its bottom, the topincluding a center metal section having a roughened surface over which atool may be rubbed, and the top also including wooden end sections onwhich the fingers may be drummed to produce various rhythmic sounds.

Another object is to provide a musical instrument of this character ofsimple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive inappearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise welladapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details-of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view showing the rear edge of theinstrument supported on legs.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a modification, and,

Figure 8 is a side elevational view thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 5 designates asubstantially flat hollow body or sound box which is composed of a rim 6having parallel front and rear edges 1 and 8 and rounded ends 9. Theinner edge of the rim is provided with upper and lower grooves 10 and ll, the upper groove having a top I2 with its edges fitted in the grooveand the bottom groove having the edges of a bottom 13 fitted therein.

The top is composed of a metallic intermediate section M which iscorrugated transversely and end sections l5 and 18 of thin wood. The

bottom is constructed of thin wood and has a central tone hole lltherein.

The rim is provided on its upper edge with hooks IB to which a strap(not shown) may be attached for suspending the device from the neck of aperson, and the underside of the rear edge of the rim is provided withsockets 19 in which short pegs or legs 20 may be fitted to elevate therear of the device when resting on a supporting surface.

The instrument is played by rubbing the fingers of a person providedwith metal thimbles over the surface of the corrugated metallic sectionM or by tapping or drumming the fingers on the Wooden end sections 15and IS.

A drawer 2| is slidably fitted in the front edge of the rim to hold thethimbles and the front edge is curved longitudinally as shown at 22 toconform to the front of a person's body when the device is supported onthe persons knees.

In Figure 7 of the drawings the central metallic section 23 is providedwith a roughened surface arranged in a, suitable design and includescorrugated sections 24 and upstanding protuberances 25 punched upwardlyfrom the surface of the metal.

A carrying handle 26 may also be secured to one edge of the rim.

It is believed the details of construction and manner of use of thedevice will be readily understood from the foregoing without furtherdetailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:

l. A musical instrument comprising a substantially flat hollow boxhaving an imperforate top and a bottom provided with a tone hole, saidtop being formed of a central metallic section having its surfaceroughened and relatively thin end sections of fibrous material, saidbottom being disposed in spaced relation under both the central and endsections.

2. A musical instrument comprising a substantially flat hollow boxhaving an imperforate top and a bottom provided with a tone hole, saidtop being formed of a central metallic section having its surfaceroughened and relatively thin end sections of fibrous material, andmeans at the rear edge of the box for supporting the same in an elevatedposition.

3. A musical instrument comprising a substantially flat hollow boxhaving an imperforate top and a bottom provided with a tone hole, saidtop being formed of a central metallic section having its surfacecorrugated and relatively thin end sections of fibrous material, saidbottom being disposed in spaced relation under both the central and endsections.

GROVER H. LIVELY.

